Movement Restrictions and Curfews Imposed on Villagers from Matupi Township as Tatmadaw Reinforces Positions in Chin State.
For Immediate Release
09 February 2019
Movement Restrictions and Curfews Imposed on Villagers from Matupi Township as Tatmadaw Reinforces Positions in Chin State.
On 6th Feb 2019, villagers from Nga Leng and Pha Neng, Matupi Township, Chin State, reported to the Chin Human Rights Organization (CHRO) that they had been banned from leaving their houses between 5 pm and 7 am. According to sources, the order was announced by the Tactical Commander from Chin State (2) and is still ongoing.
Acting on the order, the Matupi Township Administrator, U Toe Toe Tun, called a meeting with the village administrators from Nga Leng and Pha Neng villages together with 4 head of wards from Matupi Town where the order was passed down. As well as curfew designations placed on citizens of Matupi, Nga Leng and Pha Neng, local people are currently also prohibited from making stops, taking pictures, hunting or even making phone calls on the road between Pha Neng and Matupi Town, where Light Infantry Battalion (LIB) 140 is situated:
“At around 7 pm the Cangbawng ward administration officials announced the restrictions over the town loudspeaker. They told us we could not take photos while passing through the LIB 140 area, the journey between Pha Neng and Matupi Town is around four miles. We are also not allowed to stop while travelling in this area – even going to the golf course at night is prohibited” explained one source.
According to local residents, troops have moved into the town, with sentry duty positions established at the Cangbawng ward junction in Matupi Town since the order was given. Residents also informed CHRO that they have felt threatened by the arrival of more than 50 military vehicles from lower Myanmar, having arrived on 3rd February together with 4 helicopter gunships. According to sources, the helicopters, based at LIB 140 take daily flights in and out of the area to head south to Paletwa Township.
For further information or to arrange interviews please contact;
Salai Terah (in Burmese), Field Director at CHRO on +95 (0)9255934177 or Email terah@chro.ca
Salai Lian (in English), Director for Religious Freedom Program at CHRO on +95 (0) 9450687296 or email sanghninlian@chro.ca
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CHRO works to protect and promote the rights of Chin people and other oppressed and marginalized communities in Burma/Myanmar.
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